my money's on the favourite, Souey, who else?!

taken from football365.com:

Graeme Souness (Newcastle United) - 4/1 Favourite
Could he possibly beat Uncle Bobby's record of contriving to get sacked in August? Well, as he's starting with a weaker squad, considerably less managerial nous and the support of roughly five per cent of the Toon faithful, you'd have to say he's got a fairly good chance. He said himself: "If I last another 12 months in this job I will have done well," - but the bookies clearly think he was being a tad optimistic.

Facing Arsenal and Man United within the first four games does not bode well for Newcastle on the pitch - especially as Souness seems to have misplaced his strikeforce - but the real problem will come with the first fight or court case of the season. At least when he 'loses the dressing-room', we won't all suspect this Newcastle manager has literally got lost and ended up in the car park.


Alan Pardew (West Ham United) - 5/1
Can any promoted manager have taken quite as much stick as Pardew? Roundly jeered all the way through last season, he only ever seemed a couple of consecutive defeats away from being forced out. And with a ready-made replacement in Teddy Sheringam likely to be sat next to him on the bench, he'd better hope his Hammers get off to an absolute flyer.

The fixture list has been kind - in theory. West Ham will not face any of the big four in their first six games, but that could well be Pardew's undoing. The fans and the board would probably accept a good kicking from Chelsea or Arsenal, but Blackburn, Bolton or Aston Villa? A lot depends on Pardew managing to persuade a top-quality striker to join West Ham, but if you were Milan Baros would you join a club destined for a relegation fight where the manager only has a temporary sign on the door?


Alain Perrin (Portsmouth) - 13/2
Here we enter the realms of the unknown. The Frenchman did his job last season and kept a free-falling Pompey in the Premiership - earning himself a place in south-coast folklore with the demolition of Southampton into the bargain - but now the real work begins. Nobody really knows what to expect from Portsmouth, especially with unknown quantities like John Viafara and Collins Mbesuma joining along with the unpredictable though undeniable talent of Laurent Robert.

The presence of Velimir Zajec could worry Perrin, as will the chairman's love for David Pleat - having your potential successors in full view does not make them any less of a threat. But Perrin has developed a reputation for hard work and bloody-mindedness - he may need both to survive the wrath of Milan Mandaric. He could be the new Arsene Wenger or the new Christian Gross - your guess is probably as good as Milan's.


Chris Coleman (Fulham) - 7/1
A shoo-in to win this race two years ago, he was given respite last season before making a return to the corridor of uncertainty this summer after a campaign that can at best be described as 'uninspiring'. His summer transfers have been low key, but he is pinning all his hopes on an unconventional signing - that of an Aussie fitness coach - looking to drive out the sometimes lethargic play that has accidentally become the Cottagers' hallmark.

A lot could depend for Coleman on the support of the fans, which waned last season when he insisted on jumping on the slow-moving 5-4-1 bandwagon. They don't expect silverware or a challenge for European places, but they will be looking for rather more entertainment this season. Otherwise, insert your own joke here about the Cookie crumbling...


Alan Curbishley (Charlton) - 10/1
Unlikely to be sacked, but looks increasingly likely to walk if the Addicks fail to match his ambitions this season. He's been there since SWP was in short(er) trousers and has watched bigger and supposedly better jobs come and go. He gave a hint at the end of another season that dwindled disappointingly away when he said: "Maybe I've been here too long, I don't know."

He took those words back - but not before doubts were raised about Curbishley's long-term future. You certainly couldn't blame him for getting a little jaded as his club stands still and the likes of Bolton rise. And as a proud man, opening fixtures against Sunderland and Wigan will not only be labelled 'potential six points' but also 'potential resignation'. Don't be surprised to hear the words: "It's time for someone else to have a go."


Stuart Pearce (Man City) - 10/1
Endeared himself to City fans and neutrals alike with his enthusiastic touchline antics and sensible post-match reaction last season when he took over from Keggy Keegle and steered City on a glorious run that ended just a pie-eater's penalty away from the UEFA Cup. Surely he couldn't fall out of favour with the board so soon after those heroics?

But the bookies place Pearce so high because they wonder about City without Shaun Wright-Phillips and they wonder whether the rookie manager has the nous to use the money wisely. He desperately needs strikers - starting the season with a front pairing of Andrew Cole and Robert Fowler will see the prince's crown lose some of its sheen. And with City's financial straits making Premiership survival an absolute necessity, will there be a kneejerk reaction if they start the season slowly? Any volunteers to tell him he's fired?


The Rest Of The Betting
Bryan Robson (West Brom) - 14/1
David O'Leary (Aston Villa) - 14/1
Mick McCarthy (Sunderland) - 14/1
Paul Jewell (Wigan) - 14/1
Steve Bruce (Birmingham) - 14/1
Alex Ferguson (ManYoo) - 16/1
Mark Hughes (Blackburn) - 20/1
Martin Jol (Tottenham) - 20/1
Steve McClaren (Middlesbrough) - 20/1
David Moyes (Everton) - 25/1
Rafa Benitez (Liverpool) - 33/1
Sam Allardyce (Bolton) - 33/1
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) - 50/1
Jose Mourinho (Chelsea) - 50/1
None - 50/1